Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
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onetoeight: Australia’s first prime ministers

Now open

Open daily 9am–5pm (closed Christmas Day)

Free after admission
$2 adults, $1 children (free for children under 5 years old) and concessions, $5 family

18 King George Terrace, Parkes, Canberra

Visually arresting, humorous and thoughtful, Canberra-based artist Alison Alder reinterprets and reinvigorates portraits of the first eight prime ministers in onetoeight, a contemporary art exhibition. Developed from Alder’s fellowship with the Australian Prime Ministers Centre and motivated by the early period of our nation’s democracy, onetoeight brings these important historical figures a little bit closer to us.

Inspired by a picture of Stanley Bruce’s cabinet where they were all wearing a lapel badge, Alder presents each prime minister wearing at least one badge to reference a key aspect of their time in office. Neither explicitly positive or negative, we are left to form our own opinion.

Through the portraits, intense patterned wallpaper honouring the prime minister’s wives and a Term-O-Meter animation tracking the changing political hues of individuals and governments, Alder gives us a sense of our nation’s history that is lively, dynamic and parallels the present day.

Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia

PO Box 3934
Manuka ACT 2603

Open daily 9am—5pm

ABN: 30 620 774 963

Telephone: 02 6270 8222

Enquiries:
info@moadoph.gov.au

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If the museum is closed due to an emergency, call for new opening times: 1800 716 066

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Old Parliament House is a Corporate Commonwealth Entity within the Communications and the Arts portfolio.